Replaceable warning light lens protector

Abstract

A device for protecting leading surfaces of a lens of an emergency vehicle warning light. The device has a replaceable, transparent shield adapted to be conformed to the profile of the leading surface. The shield is attached to the lens by upper and lower grooves formed in the lens. Notches are provided to assist with removal of the shield for replacement. Channels are provided to drain moisture from the lower groove. A first lens modified protector provides tracks, secured to the lens, for securing and conforming the shield to the lens. A second modified protector provides a thin, removable film for attachment to the lens by a pressure sensitive adhesive. A third modified protector provides a heating element attached to the shield for thawing, and for operably defrosting and preventing accumulation of frozen water products from and on the shield.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
       1. A device for shielding a leading surface of a lens of a warning light system on the exterior of an emergency vehicle, said device comprising: (a) a shield constructed of a thin planar sheet of transparent material having upper and lower sides; said shield having sufficient flexibility to be conformable to the leading surface; and   (b) attaching means for releasably attaching said shield to the leading surface of the lens such that said shield is conformed to the leading surface; said attaching means including at least one pair of opposing tracks adapted to grasp said upper and lower sides even as the emergency vehicle is driven at high speeds; said attaching means further including adhering means for adhering said tracks to the lens such that said shield generally covers only the leading surface of the lens.   
     
     
       2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: (a) said tracks are constructed of plastic.   
     
     
       3. The device according to claim 1, wherein: (a) said tracks are constructed of aluminum.   
     
     
       4. The device according to claim 1, wherein: (a) said shield is constructed of plastic.   
     
     
       5. The device according to claim 1, wherein: (a) said sheet has a thickness in the range of approximately 0.005 to 0.5 millimeters.   
     
     
       6. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one pair of opposing tracks has a pair of lips adapted to frictionally grasp a respective one of said upper and lower sides of said shield. 
     
     
       7. A device for a vehicle warning light system of an emergency vehicle, the light system having a lens with an arcuately convex leading surface, said device comprising: (a) a shield constructed of a thin planar sheet of transparent material having upper and lower sides; said shield having sufficient flexibility such that said shield can be manually flexed to conform to the leading surface without damaging said transparent material;   (b) a pair of opposing tracks, each having a pair of opposing lips adapted to frictionally grasp a respective one of said upper and lower sides even as the emergency vehicle is driven at high speeds; and   (c) adhering means for adhering said pair of tracks to the lens even as the emergency vehicle is driven at high speeds; and   (d) wherein said shield is dimensioned and said pair of opposing tracks are spaced such that said shield generally covers only the leading surface of the lens and said shield is conformed to the shape of the leading surface as said upper and lower sides are retained in a respective one of said pair of opposing tracks, and wherein said shield is easily removable from said pair of opposing tracks by flexing said shield.   
     
     
       8. A replaceable lens protector for installation on an existing vehicle warning light system of an emergency vehicle wherein the system has a lens with a convexly arcuate leading surface, comprising: (a) a planar, flexible, transparent sheet of shield material having upper and lower sides;   (b) a pair of tracks, each having a pair of lips adapted to frictionally grasp a respective one of said upper and lower sides; and   (c) adhering means for adhering said pair of tracks to the leading surface of the lens such that said shield material generally covers, and conforms to, the leading surface as said upper and lower sides are retained in a respective one of said pair of tracks even as said protector is subjected to wind created during high speed travel of the emergency vehicle.